...

Watching the sleeping Dubian Che, Mayi Asuka gently stroked his cheek, feeling a deep sense of happiness and tranquility.

Dubian Che slowly opened his eyes.

"Che," she softly called out her lover's name.

"Senior," Dubian Che buried his face in her embrace with affection.

"What happened?"

Dubian Che mentioned that Jiutiao Meijie knew about their relationship and had given him permission to see them outside.

"And you, Che?" Mayi Asuka's voice remained calm and gentle.

"Me?"

"Yes, why are you crying, Che?"

Dubian Che remained silent.

Mayi Asuka did not ask further, pressing her face against Dubian Che's.

"As long as you don't leave me, Che, I'll support whatever decision you make, standing by your side."

"Mmh," Dubian Che replied in a soft voice.

On May thirty-first, the Monday after the three-day weekend.

Descending from the train and exiting Shibuya Station, he heard Saito Keisuke's voice coming from a bike repair shop under the shade of elm trees as he started up the slope.

"Dubian, Dubian, over here!" Saito Keisuke waved enthusiastically.

Beside him, the repair shop owner was inspecting a geared bicycle.

"What's going on?" Dubian Che walked over.

"I don't know what's wrong with it, but it makes a 'click clack' noise whenever I ride it," Saito Keisuke explained, troubled.

"I mean, when did you start riding a bike? Weren't you always taking the bus?"

"Exercising," Saito Keisuke flexed his arm, "To create a great 'bishoujo' game, you need to be in good shape, you know—to prepare for the all-nighters."

Dubian Che nodded.

"The artist has been secured. Chichiko from the art department has agreed to help out."

The repair shop owner then interjected, "Leave it here with me, come pick it up after school."

"Sure, thanks a lot," Saito Keisuke responded.

The two walked up the slope, surrounded by a sea of students in the same uniform. In Dubian Che's eyes, these students all had the same face.

The normally cheerful chatter and the ringing of bicycle bells now sounded exceptionally grating to his ears.

He even felt like shouting at these people to shut up.

But he said nothing and maintained his composure while listening to Saito Keisuke boast about how challenging it was to get Chichiko involved.

He had spent a substantial sum to purchase her serialized girl's manga in "Housewife's Life" magazine and had read it all. Then he listened to Chichiko talk about her passionate love for Mr. Dubian.

"Is that so," said Dubian Che.

"Huh?" Saito Keisuke looked at him, puzzled.

"What?"

"Are you really listening to me? Not interested? But I can understand, not many boys read shoujo manga," Saito Keisuke said, nodding with a sense of righteousness.

"Right!" he suddenly exclaimed, "Do you know who your character is involved with in the manga?"

"Not interested."

"You will be once I tell you! It's Kiyono! In the latest volume, Jiutiao also appears, a wealthy heiress, competing with Kiyono for you!"

...

"I've totally put the three of you into it, it's hilarious, I'll lend it to you on Saturday."

The two entered the classroom. Dubian Che glanced around; Kiyono Lin and Jiutiao Meijie had already arrived.

He walked over and said good morning.

"Meiji," he took a "portable pillow" out of his backpack and hung the bag on the hook at the side of the desk, then turned back, "for you."

"A pillow?" Jiutiao Meijie glanced at it.

"Comfortable, sleep aid, won't cause stiff neck, you won't have numb arms after sleeping in class."

"Has anyone else touched it?"

"Nope."

Jiutiao Meijie took the pillow, patting it—it was very soft, tempting one to rest their head on it.

"What's with you?" she asked nonchalantly while inspecting the pillow.

"What?"

"You look downcast."

Dubian Che touched the corner of his eye with his pinky finger, "I'm a bit sad about losing Kiyono."

Jiutiao Meijie lifted her eyes to stare at him.

"I don't want to lie to you anymore," said Dubian Che.

Jiutiao Meijie patted the pillow, "It's so-so, I'm barely satisfied."

"Mr. Dubian," Kiyono Lin looked up from the hardcover book, "before you talk about 'losing' me, please wait until after you've had me."

"There won't be that chance," Jiutiao Meiji turned her face aside, sneering.

"Do you think if you have the capability to snatch him away, I don't have the ability to take him back? You can't even imagine how much Dubian Che loves me," Kiyono Lin replied with an equally cold sneer.

"Take him back... I seem to have always been by Meiji's side," Dubian Che said.

"Did I allow you to speak?" Kiyono Lin glared with an intimidating look.

Being scolded, Dubian Che actually felt a sense of relief inside.

After all, Kiyono Lin would always be his dearest, closest friend.

No matter what happened, such a relationship was already the furthest distance between the two.

"Yes, yes, I have no rights," he said with a laugh.

"Whose side are you really on? Hers or mine?" Jiutiao Meiji asked, arms crossed.

Dubian Che leaned to the side, his head moving closer and spoke quietly behind his hand,

"Can I tell the truth?"

"Go ahead."

"I wish you two would listen to me, um—"

Jiutiao Meiji pressed a pillow against Dubian Che's face.

"Meiji, Meiji, I listen to you, Meiji!"

Jiutiao Meiji snorted lightly and let him go.

"I better not tell the truth anymore," Dubian Che winced in hindsight.

"Mr. Dubian," Kiyono Lin said, "your bangs."

"Oh, thanks." Dubian Che fixed his bangs that the pillow had mussed up.

Jiutiao Meiji glanced at Kiyono Lin with a smirk, "You really don't plan to give up, do you?"

"Would I let you win and then just run away, or are you scared? After investing so much, are you still afraid I'll snatch him back?"

"The miss here can win once, she can win twice, why would I fear a loser like you?"

"Pfft—" Ichiki Kui, who was pretending to read but actually eavesdropping, buried her face in the front page of the book, her body twitching from the effort to stifle her laughter.

"Loser..." Kiyono Lin inhaled deeply, turned her head sharply towards Dubian Che, "give me your English book."

"What's wrong?"

Kiyono Lin didn't speak, just furrowed her brows prettily, and Dubian Che had no choice but to honestly hand over the book.

"See, Jiutiao? Kiyono Lin showed him the English book, "Mr. Dubian's favorite character, Ying Lili."

Jiutiao Meiji asked Dubian Che, "What's with her?"

"She's another loser," Dubian Che whispered back.

"Pfft—" Ichiki Kui covered her stomach, nearly crying with laughter.

"So you like losers?" Jiutiao Meiji asked.

"How could I?" Dubian Che quickly said, "I like Ying Lili, it just so happens she's a loser."

"Likewise, no matter when, no matter what I do, Mr. Dubian likes me," Kiyono Lin said with a smile, as if she had already won.

"How is that the same?" Dubian Che couldn't help but ask.

Jiutiao Meiji glanced at Kiyono Lin, then said to Dubian Che, "It's changed."

"What's changed?"

"You're not allowed to like this character anymore."

"Fine, starting tomorrow, I'll like Kato Megumi—another anime character, not a real person."

Jiutiao Meiji tugged at Dubian Che's ear, "Didn't I tell you to change to liking me? Can't you understand?"

"Meiji, just say it straight out; from the context earlier, how could I possibly think... ow ow ow, I'll change, I'll change! I like Meiji!"

"Everyone back to your seats." Xiaoquan Aonai walked in with a clipboard.

That saved Dubian Che.

In the very brief moment before Xiaoquan Aonai spoke, Ichiki Kui whispered softly, "Mr. Dubian, you had it tough."

Her voice was laced with barely contained amusement.

Dubian Che really wanted to tell her about Mayi Asuka's charm and her terrible Italian pasta, but in the end, he decided against it.

What he wanted was the world to bow before him, not to quarrel with a girl.

Xiaoquan Aonai stood at the lectern, and that frenzied anxiety that had been absent for a long time came rushing back, making the podium feel even more like a place to flee from than the first time she had stood there.

In the southeast corner of the classroom, there were students who had called her Big Sister, a boyfriend, and the boyfriend's... legal wife?

Why did she have to torture herself like this?

"Humph." Jiutiao Meiji looked over coldly, her smile devoid of any warmth.

Xiaoquan Aonai felt even more ashamed, her embarrassment peaking.

"The class meeting will begin." She started nervously, staring at the teaching plan that had nothing on it despite herself.

"The three-day holiday is over, regardless of how the break went for you, please adjust your emotions and dive back into studying."

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